Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP58: Calculated Risks: Navigating Risk Tolerance for Self-Published Authors

When it comes to writing and self-publishing, most authors are probably not very preoccupied with the idea of risk, or how it pertains to them. The fact is, though, that being a self-published author is essentially a business, and it's important that it be treated as such. That's why the concepts such as risk tolerance and risk capacity are so important, even if many of us don't even know what they mean!
Fortunately, today's guest, author and accountant D.F. Hart, is here to give us a deep dive on the concepts, and how they can impact your writing business. As she explains (with some great examples) most of your key writing and publishing decisions should be looked at from a risk tolerance and capacity perspective. In doing so, you'll find it much easier to make smart and informed decisions that maximize your profits and help you achieve your goals.
 
D.F. Hart
https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.F.-Hart/author/B004VBG4I6
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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Fully Booked EP57: Exploring the Craft of Multi-Genre Fiction Writing

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with Gothic Suspense author London Clarke to talk about the world of multi-genre fiction writing. Clarke, who has made a name for herself by seamlessly blending elements of horror, romance, and suspense in her work, shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities that come with this unique approach to storytelling. She discusses how she manages to keep the different genres cohesive and how she balances the demands of each one in her writing.
London also talks about the upsides and downsides of this approach, and how she built a following and connected with readers by remaining true to her storytelling vision. The conversation takes a deep dive into the creative process and the inspirations behind Clarke's work, as well as the hurdles she has faced along the way and how she overcame them.
 
London Clarkehttps://www.londonclarke.com/
 
Hidden GemsNeed our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

Fully Booked EP56: The Power of Perspective: Exploring First vs Third Person Writing

In this week's episode, Craig and Roland dive into the world of narrative perspective and explore the differences between first and third person writing. Joined by a very special guest, YA fiction author Courtney Brandt, the Fully Booked team examines the impact of point of view on the reader's experience and how it shapes the way a story is told.
From the intimacy of first person to the omniscience of third person, Courtney guides the discussion through the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective and how authors can use each of them to enhance their writing.
 
Courtney Brandt
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002BLOXRM
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP55: Pantser vs Plotter Throwdown!

For authors, there are typically two schools of thought around writing a novel. Plotters are authors who prefer to carefully plan out every aspect of the story before putting pen to paper. Pantsers, on the other hand, prefer to let the story unfold organically as they write. The two approaches are essentially opposite ends of a spectrum, and while there are probably times when most authors are a little bit of both, there are many who identify very strongly as being on one side or the other.
But which side is right for you? That’s the question we attempt to answer in our Pantster vs Plotter Throwdown!
On the Pantser side, we have Danielle Stewart, a USA Today bestselling author who has written over 50 books without having plotted a single scene. On the plotter side, author Bethany Maines is almost as prolific, but uses butcher paper and spreadsheets to detail out her award-winning novels. Watch as the two authors verbally duke it out until one side cries mercy and changes their writing style forever… Just kidding, of course! 
The fact is, there is no right or wrong in this debate - just two different styles that fit two different types of writing personality. So, if you haven’t yet settled on which approach works best for you, Danielle and Bethany lay out all the arguments to help you figure it out.
 
Danielle Stewart
https://authordaniellestewart.com/
 
Bethany Maines
https://bethanymaines.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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Fully Booked EP54: How To Write Successful Short Stories

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into the world of short story writing. This week’s guest is KC Grifant, who writes internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction and weird western short stories. She shares her insights and expertise on the ins and outs of the short story genre, tells us about the various outlets for publishing short stories, including literary magazines, anthologies, and online platforms, and also shares tips on how to increase your chances of getting your short stories accepted and published.
KC also talks about the financial side of short story writing, delves into the structure and technique of short story writing, and tells us how we can create a strong plot and well-developed characters even with  a limited word count. This episode is a must-listen for any aspiring short story writer looking to take their craft to the next level.
 
KC Grifant
https://scifiwri.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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All episode details and links: 
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Fully Booked EP53: Can Authors Earn with Patreon and Memberships?

Mailing lists and newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with readers and even spark some helpful sales bumps whenever new releases are announced. However, some authors have taken things a step further in their quest to build out a more stable income stream. Subscription services, like those made popular by sites like Patreon, can provide a reliable monthly income that supplements books sales while also providing value and excitement to your dedicated fans.
Author K Webster has been running a membership club like this for over a year and has built up a healthy side income from her most loyal readers, all while keeping them happy with monthly exclusive extras like special signed hardcover editions of her books, character naming rights, and all sorts of branded swag. By offering diferent levels of rewards at a variety of pricing tiers, she's able to offer options to a variety of readers and keep everyone happy.
Today, she's talking to Fully Booked about what goes into running a membership club like this, the work involved, the lessons she's learned, and a whole bunch of ideas for what sorts of things readers enjoy. There's a lot of work involved in running a service like this - but for authors who are interested in doing it, the rewards can make it worthwhile for both them and their fans!
 
K Webster
https://authorkwebster.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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All episode details and links:
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Fully Booked EP52: One Year of the Fully Booked Podcast

With Episode 52, Fully Booked marks an entire year of podcasting - and we have no plans on slowing down any time soon! To recognize the anniversary, Craig and Roland look back over the year and highlight a few of the episodes that were most memorable to each of them, as well as talk about some of the big things currently shaking up the industry, or that seem likely to have an impact on self-publishing in the near future. Topics include:
Amazon attribution tags
Amazon not allowing book sales from their mobile app (and why)
How AI (like ChatGPT) can be used as a tool for authors now and in the future
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP51: How Understanding Trauma Can Help You Write More Authentic Characters

To write deep and engaging characters that readers can connect with, we must first create empathy. This is commonly done by giving those characters detailed backstories, sometimes filled with the same sort of difficult histories and traumas that we've faced within our own lives. To do so, however, authors have to tread carefully - ensuring that they’re handling these complex and potentially triggering issues as sensitively as possible, and that they understand them enough to write about them accurately, even if they lack personal experience in the specific issue relating to their character.
To understand the best ways to handle these types of topics, we've invited two subject-matter experts to the podcast. After writing A Soldier's Guide to PTSD, veteran and licensed professional counselor Virginia Cruse turned to USA Today bestselling author Katie Salidas for help on expanding her work to a wider audience. Through their partnership, the women were able to translate the more clinical or technical jargon into language that was easier to understand, eventually leading to the publication of Acknowledge and Heal: A Women-Focused Guide to Understanding PTSD.
In today's episode, Virginia and Katie help explain how understanding the "why behind the what" of our behavior (that is, how our past trauma and experience guide how we act) is the key to writing believable and engaging characters that connect with readers without scaring them away.
 
Virginia Cruse
https://militarycounselingsa.com/
 
Katie Salidas
https://www.katiesalidas.com/
 
 
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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All episode details and links:
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Fully Booked EP50: Using Dictation Software to Enhance your Productivity

If you haven't tried it recently - or ever! - you might be surprised at how useful and effective dictation can be toward increasing your word count and productivity as an author. The AI that drives voice recognition systems has come a long way over the years and, as a result, most of today's technology comes pre-loaded with some sort of speech recognition without even having to pay for it. This means authors no longer need to even sit at a computer to create their stories.
USA Today bestselling author and longtime dictation software-user Kayla Perrin has a lot of experience using speech-to-text software to write her novels - and, as she explains to Craig and Roland, it isn't all about simply saving your wrists from carpal tunnel or to compensate for a slow typing speed. Kayla often uses the software to write on-the-go, while waiting for an appointment, or even while out walking the dog. Plus, the benefits extend beyond simple convenience, especially for authors who have a tendency to get bogged down by self-editing as they go. The nature of dictation software forces you to break that habit, allowing you to get through your all-important first draft much sooner. So even if you aren't interested in committing to using dictation software as your primary writing method, the versatility of the software and ubiquitousness of the devices that support it mean that some sort of hybrid approach could easily be incorporated into your routine and make you a more productive author.
 
Kayla Perrin
https://www.authorkaylaperrin.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP49: Getting a Bookbub Spot and Maximizing the Results

Almost since the very day it was founded a decade ago, BookBub Featured Deals have been known as the Holy Grail of promotional newsletters for authors. Despite the high cost and difficulty of getting selected for inclusion, those that do get a spot generally see thousands of sales or downloads. This can be a massive boost to an author's career, which explains why the demand for these limited spots is so high and writer forums everywhere are littered with more tales of rejected applications than news of success. 
Yet authors DO get selected, some multiple times, as is the case with today's guest. Juliette N. Banks has been publishing her romance novels for a couple of years now, and along with her experience and knowledge gained from spending three decades as a senior marketer, she's already had six BookBub Featured Deals. They, along with other marketing strategies, changed everything in her business, taking her from three figure earning months to five. And she's learned a lot along the way. 
Juliette sat down with Fully Booked to talk about her experiences and share her insight with our listeners. She has some great tips on ways that authors can improve their chances of being selected in the first place, and then once they do, how best to maximize their ability to profit from the huge exposure to their featured book and overall catalog. 
 
Juliette N. Banks
https://www.juliettebanks.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast